What If... the Vision Had Conquered the World?

A What If? story that coincides with my personal entry into Avengers comics back in the 80s, a minor classic that had the Vision become the Internet. Not that we knew what that was yet, but we'd seen War Games. We knew what it MEANT. Except we really didn't. Anyway, this issue presents not one, but two possible outcomes to the proposed question. In the first, things go amazingly RIGHT (1). On the other, terribly WRONG (2).

What If vol.2 #19 (November 1990)Based on: Avengers #254The true history: The Vision ties into every computer in the world, but the Avengers talk him down his tree (yes, that's a computer pun, just not a very good one).Turning point: What if the Avengers failed to convince the Vision to not take over the world's computers?Story type: Multiple choice/New World OrderWatcher's mood: Aerodynamic collarAltered history: (1) In "Utopia", the heroes and governments of Earth are powerless to stop the Vision from taking over its computers. Of course, Viz just wants what's good for us, as he explains in his address to the United Nations, a speech that includes this bit of wisdom:How can I disagree? Soon, he's got Captain America dismantling nuclear arsenals, X-Factor feeding the poor, Black Panther developing Africa, Reed Richards providing cheap power for the world, and Thor restoring the rain forests. Everyone has access to the Vision for their education, and after a few years of very boring comics, the world is united under one very difficult to draw flag.I mean, the maple leaf is hard enough, but humanity's DNA strand?! Too much. It apparently doesn't stop us from going into space and by the 22nd century, we're following the adventures of the Cosmic Avengers.Thor is still alive. Starhawk knows the Avengers brand is stronger than the Guardians'. We've also got the genetically designed Commander America, Jhen the Gammazon who is a clone of She-Hulk, the Tachyon Torch (referred to as both an android AND a descendant of Johnny Storm), and Irondroid (who, despite the "droid" in his name, is a flesh and blood guy). Everything's great on Earth, but now they're brushing up against the Kree and the Skrulls and war breaks out. But the Cosmic Avengers defeat them with the power of Commander America's unhinged jaw......and the populations of both worlds revolt against their leaders, bringing a new era of peace to the entire universe. Earth, you've done it again!(2) In "Dystopia", Genosha teleports a nuke into New York to destroy the Vision's mainframe as soon as he tried to take over their stuff.But by then, he's everywhere. However, it does mean most of the Marvel heroes are dead, economies collapse, and wars break out. Viz allies himself with four supervillains - the Mad Thinker, Doctor Doom, the Supreme Hydra and the Kingpin (what, was he on holiday when the nuke hit?) - to get Earth's nations back under control. They all accept his deal, hoping to take over at some point. At least they're good for creating android armies with which to subjugate humanity.The Vision becomes ever more a slave to pure logic, and lets Earth become a fascist factory. By the 22nd century, it's become an empire still ruled by the Vision, as well as Doom's clone, the current Supreme Hydra, and the Mad Thinker who's put his brain in an ape-like android. They destroy the Shi'ar and then have to face the combined might of the Kree, Skrulls and Badoon. Well, no problem. First, the Vision viruses himself into the Kree Supreme Intelligence.Then, he gets the Skrulls hooked on some kind of drug. And finally he takes the Badoon's females and babies hostage. Logic wins the day, I guess. Which way would you rather Earth be remembered?Books canceled as a result: All of them. Utopia's would be extra-dull, with perhaps Cosmic Avengers remaining to tell of future stories. In Dystopia, everybody dies, and even the future is bleak.These things happen: While the Vision never took over the world, the Internet did. And used it to send me penis enlargement ads. Does that count?

Next week: What if the Amazing Spider-Man had not married Mary Jane?My guess: Joe Quesada never considered a jerk!